M&A Activity • Mar 17, 2011
M&A Activity
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IBA closed the 3rd proton therapy order in 2011 after Seattle, WA, USA and Dresden, Germany. IBA continues to make proton therapy accessible to more cancer patients worldwide.
Stockholm, Sweden, March 17, 2011
Stockholm, Sweden, March 17, 2011 — IBA announced today, during the signature ceremony held in Stockholm that Skandionkliniken, the first cancer center in Scandinavia dedicated to proton-beam treatments, has signed with IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) a definitive contract to manufacture, install and maintain a new proton therapy system.
To be constructed in Uppsala, Sweden, Skandionkliniken continues that city's rich history in the development of proton beam systems for medical use.
IBA contract with Skandionkliniken for the installation of the proton therapy system (2 patient treatment rooms and 1 research room) is valued between €50 million and €60 million, including a five-year service agreement.
Seven Swedish counties and eight local university hospitals have chosen an innovative approach to jointly invest and finance the €100 million project related to a new cancer center. Partners supporting the facility include the county councils of Uppsala, Östergötland, Skåne, Stockholm, Västerbotten, Västra Götaland and Örebro.
The construction of Skandionkliniken, adjacent to the University Hospital, is planned to begin later this year. The first patients are expected to be treated with protons in 2015. When fully operational, around 1,000 patients will be treated each year at Skandionkliniken, with referrals from clinicians from the University Hospitals in Göteborg, Linköping, Lund, Malmö, Örebro, Stockholm, Umeå and Uppsala. The project design can accommodate future expansion.
"Back in 2003, Swedish health care authorities and clinicians recognized that about 12 percent of cancer patients treated with conventional radiation therapy in Sweden were far more suitable candidates for proton therapy, especially children," said Leif Lyttkens managing director of Skandionkliniken. "That is about 2,500 patients per year, far more than the single beam line at Svedberg could ever accommodate. We all agreed it was in the best interest of cancer patients that we pursue development of a national proton therapy center. IBA has the expertise and experience to ensure Skandionkliniken is a reality."
"Skandionkliniken is an extraordinary partnership of all of Sweden's county councils and seven University Hospitals who are committed to bringing the latest advances in child and adult cancer treatment to their country," said Pierre Mottet, Chief Executive Officer of IBA. "The clinicians at Skandionkliniken will be able to treat far more types of cancers with protons, including breast cancer and lung cancer, and recurrent cancers previously treated by x-rays. IBA believes in personalized care for all and is honored to help bring proton therapy to more cancer patients in Sweden."
Press release | March 17th, 2011 1 | 2
Over the years, research facilities in Uppsala have played critical roles in the advancement of proton therapy. In 1957, the Gustaf Werner Institute at the University of Uppsala was the second facility in the world to treat cancer with protons, duplicating a protocol used in 1948 at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, California, USA. Patient treatments continued at Gustaf Werner Institute until 1973. Following reconstruction of the research facility and installation of a new cyclotron, the Svedberg Laboratory resumed treating primarily brain and prostate cancer patients in 1989 using a fixed-horizontal beam line.
To date, IBA has been selected to install 24 proton therapy centers of which 11 are currently treating patients and 9 are under installation or construction. IBA's installations represent more than half of the clinically based proton therapy facilities in the world.
This is IBA's 3rd proton therapy equipment order this year after the projects in Seattle, Washington, USA (signed in 2010 and closed in 2011) and in Dresden, Germany.
Proton Therapy is increasingly considered the preferred radiotherapy for cancer due to its superior dose distribution. Protons deposit the majority of their effective energy within a precisely controlled range, directly within the tumor, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. Higher doses can be delivered to the tumor without increasing the risk of side effects and long-term complications, thereby improving outcomes and quality of life for patients. Unfortunately, very few patients can yet benefit from this type of treatment around the world.
IBA develops and markets leading-edge technologies, pharmaceuticals and tailor-made solutions for healthcare with a focus on cancer diagnosis and therapy. Leveraging on its scientific expertise, IBA is also active in the field of industrial sterilization and ionization. Listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT, IBA is included in the BelMid Index. (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).
Website: www.iba-worldwide.com
Skandionkliniken will be the first dedicated clinic for proton therapy in Scandinavia. Located in Uppsala, Sweden, the two patient treatment room facility will be operated jointly by the seven Swedish counties, Uppsala, Östergötland, Skåne, Stockholm, Västerbotten, Västra Götaland and Örebro, and their university hospitals. Website: http://www.skandionkliniken.se
IBA Sandrine Leriche VP Corporate Communication t.: +32 10 47 58 90 e. [email protected] Skandion Leif Lyttkens Managing director t.: +46 70 523 43 79 e. [email protected]
Press release | March 17th, 2011 2 | 2
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